Q-1: I am a student residing in the Outaouais in the area served by the STO. I am a full-time student at the University of Ottawa. Why am I not entitled to get the U-Pass and then use it to travel on the STO’s system?

A: The U-Pass is an OC Transpo pass. It is part of a pilot project intended exclusively for full-time students residing in Ontario during the school year.

Q-2: Is there a special price or pass for full-time students attending the University of Ottawa or Carleton University who reside in the Outaouais area in Quebec?

A: Students from the Outaouais who reside in the area served by the STO and study at the University of Ottawa or Carleton University can already benefit from a student fare of $54* (for students aged 20 and under) or the STO Forfait Cam-Puce pass at $237* per semester (for students aged 21 and over).

* fares subject to change

Q-3: I want to use public transit. Why am I not entitled to get the U-Pass?

A: Because this pilot project is intended exclusively for full-time students residing in Ontario during the school year.

Q-4: Why do UQO and Cégep students pay less?

AIn the Outaouais, academic institutions such as the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) and the Cégep de l’Outaouais contribute financially towards public transit, which allows the STO to make agreements with them and create special offers as a result. The academic institutions thus collaborate financially in creating these offers for their students. This approach is different from the one taken by the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.

ACCESS TO THE STO SYSTEM

Q-5: Do Ontario students registered at the University of Ottawa or Carleton University have access to the STO system with their U-Pass?

A: Yes, but because the U-Pass is an OC Transpo pass, they are subject to the same conditions as other OC Transpo riders who use the STO’s system. For example, the STO – OC Transpo Rider card* is mandatory if boarding before 9 a.m. in certain areas, otherwise the full fare is applicable. Click here for more details on using OC Transpo passes on the STO system.

* For U-PASS holders, the address of residence must be in Ontario, in the OC Transpo service area. Proof of residency may be requested at any time. Improper use can result in deactivation of the card.

EXCEPTION

Q-6: Can I be exempted from paying $145 per semester for the U-Pass?

A: Yes, if you are a student whose postal code corresponds to an address located in the areas served by the STO or an adjacent municipality such as Pontiac, Ange-Gardien, La Pêche or Val-des-Monts during the school year, you are automatically exempted. This aspect is managed directly by the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.

Q-7: Students at the Université du Québec en Outaouais have access to an UQO Forfait Cam-Puce pass at a cost of $126 per semester. Why?

A: In the Outaouais, academic institutions such as UQO and the Cégep de l’Outaouais contribute financially towards public transit, which allows the STO to make agreements with them and create special offers as a result.

The STO has an agreement with the Université du Québec en Outaouais, which contributes funding towards the Forfait Cam-Puce pass, thereby allowing the STO to offer the pass at a cost of $126 per semester.

Q-8: The university is asking me to pay for the U-Pass but I live in Gatineau, is this possible?

A: The address where you are living during your studies determines whether you are eligible for the U-Pass. You should contact the university to find out how to make an address change.

To learn more about OC Transpo passes on the STO system, click here.

To learn more about the Forfait Cam-Puce pass, click here.